Skin Cancer Specialist
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South Coast Ear, Nose and Throat
Avrum Kaufman, DO
ENT & Facial Plastic Reconstructive Surgeon located in Ladera Ranch, CA & Irvine, CA
When a worrisome lesion appears on your head, face, or neck, or you notice a change in a mole, you can count on the Avrum Kaufman, DO, at South Coast Ear, Nose and Throat to provide exceptional care. As a board-certified ENT and facial and plastic reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Kaufman has successfully treated many patients for skin cancer, removing the lesion and reconstructing the wound at the same time. To schedule an appointment, call one of the offices in Ladera Ranch or Irvine, California, or use the online booking feature.
Skin Cancer Q & A
Am I at risk for skin cancer?
The primary cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, whether from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Your risk is also higher if you have numerous moles on your body, fair skin, blond or red hair, or a family history of skin cancer.
When it comes to UV light exposure, two factors contribute to skin cancer. Intense, blistering sunburns significantly increase your risk, even if they only happened during childhood. Additionally, your cumulative exposure to sunlight over the years is an important factor.
What are the most common types of skin cancer?
The most important thing to know about skin cancers is that they’re all curable when they’re diagnosed and treated at an early stage. The three most common types of skin cancer are:
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
BCC is the most common skin cancer. It may look like a red patch, a flesh-colored bump, or an open sore. Though BCC rarely metastasizes, it often invades deep into the surrounding tissues.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
SCC is the second most common skin cancer, but it’s the one most likely to spread to other areas of your body.
This type of skin cancer often begins as hard, crusty lesions called actinic keratoses. If they’re not treated, these lesions turn cancerous and change into a red bump or an area of bleeding skin.
Melanoma
Like BCC and SCC, melanoma is curable when it’s caught at an early stage. But if melanoma goes undiagnosed and has time to metastasize, it’s hard to treat.
As a result, it’s responsible for more deaths than other skin cancers. Melanoma often develops when an existing mole mutates, but it can also appear as a new lesion.
How is skin cancer treated?
Skin cancer can develop anywhere on your body, but it usually appears in the areas that get the most exposure to sunlight, which includes your face, neck, and scalp — areas treated by Dr. Kaufman. As an expert in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, he has extensive experience treating patients with skin cancer.
The first line of treatment is always surgical removal of the tumor. The margins around the tumor are examined during surgery to confirm that all the cancer was removed. Dr. Kaufman specializes in tissue-sparing procedures that ensure all the cancer is eliminated while leaving as much healthy tissue as possible.
Following surgical excision of your skin cancer, Dr. Kaufman offers immediate plastic surgery repair. With this technique, your cancer is removed, and the wound is reconstructed in one visit.
For a thorough skin exam of your face, neck, and head, or if you need an experienced surgeon to remove your skin cancer, call South Coast Ear, Nose and Throat or book an appointment online.
